Prof.Bhim Singh, Chief Patron of National Panthers Party in a statement condemned the Service Tax of Hindu pilgrims travelling by helicopter for darshan of Mata Vaishno Devi and described it as much worst than ‘Jajia’ imposed by the Mughals on the Hindus during their rule. NPP Supremo said that India is a secular country and the minorities are treated with utmost respect and dignity. Even Constitution of India has guaranteed them fundamental rights to practice any religion. There could be no discrimination on the basis of religion. He said that this is a great tragedy that RSS became ruling partners in J&K for the first and last time. This ‘Jajia’ (Service Tax) could not have been imposed on the Hindu pilgrims without consent of the BJP (RSS) ministers in J&K.

NPP Supremo said that all the tourists including pilgrims have to pay all kind of taxes like Sale Tax, Purchase Tax and even Service Tax while purchasing tickets by Airlines or helicopters. Imposing Service Tax on the Vaishno Devi pilgrims travelling by helicopters within J&K is highly deplorable and cannot be accepted in a secular state. He asked Prime Minister Modi to explain it the country men why his government has insulted the Hindu pilgrims when the Hindus all over India voted for Modi for his ‘Hindutva’. Modi was given highly emotional reception by the Hindu citizens in USA, Kerala and all other countries wherever he went.

NPP Supremo asked Prime Minister Modi, Is it your response to your Hindu voters? Is it not insult to the entire Hindu fraternity in India and abroad? Can Mr. Modi justify this ‘Jajiya’ on Vaishno Devi pilgrims? Prof.Bhim Singh further added that India’s secularism is demonstrated by the fact that our Muslim fraternity travelling by air from J&K to Mecca are given subsidy on the expenses of their travels including air tickets, which is a great gesture of secular India but he asked Prime Minister how could you justify this obnoxious tax (Jajiya) on Hindu travellers to Mata Vaishno Devi in J&K.

He called on the Panthers Party activists and the leaders to take up this movement to its logical end.

Addressing a press conference in Goverdhan (Mathura, U.P.) late last evening, Prof.Bhim Singh, Supremo of NPP declared that reorganization of J&K on the patron of Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, Gujarat, Bihar is essential to end internal conflict and political chaos in J&K. J&K was created in 1846 by Treaty of Amritsar between Maharaja of J&K, Gulab Singh and the East India Company through a heterogeneous Union of Gilgit, Ladakh, Baltistan, Jammu and Kashmir Valley under political compulsions existing at that time. He said that the situation stands changed and it is highly essential under the present combination and permutation in the sub-continent that the people of these regions are given benefit of modern history in the light of the distinct geographical, anthropological, political, cultural and historic background and situation. Ladakh and Gilgit-Baltistan formed a distinct cultural unit having different geographical map as compared to the Kashmir Valley and Jammu Pradesh. He said that Dogra Pahari-Gujjar cultural identity has to be recognized on its merit and so should be the case with the cultural, linguistic and historical identity of the people living in the Kashmir Valley. In other words, Prof.Bhim Singh argued strongly, that the State needs to be reorganized with the formation of Jammu Pradesh, Kashmir Valley and Ladakh-Baltistan.

Prof.Bhim Singh described the present State-Centre relations as a part of the tragedy which people of J&K have been experiencing after the promulgation of the Constitution of India on 26thJanuary, 1950. J&K was kept out of the preview (jurisdiction) of Constitution of India. J&K continued as a Monarchy under Maharaja Hari Singh till his status was abolished by a simple resolution on 20th August, 1952 by a nominated Constituent Assembly under Sheikh Abdullah’s leadership. What is the status of J&K after the Monarchy was removed? What is the relevance of Article 370 after the Maharaja himself was fired? What was the necessity to continue with a draconian Article 370 in the Indian Constitution? He questioned the Parliament as to why the Parliament has abdicated its authority to legislate on J&K? When every citizen of India got freedom and has been enjoying the fundamental rights under Chapter-III of the Indian Constitution, why there is no chapter on Human Rights in the so-called Constitution of J&K? Why J&K has separate flag and the constitution when it forms integral part of India?

Prof.Bhim Singh said that as long as J&K is not reorganized and fundamental rights granted to every Indian citizen residing in J&K, there could be no peace and no harmony. He demanded uniform Constitution in the country and introduction of fundamental rights to the people residing in J&K. He also demanded reorganization of J&K as it has been done in case of other states.

Prof.Bhim Singh was invited to Goverdhan (Mathura) Conference by the Shankeracharya of Puri. He was accompanied by Rajiv Jolly Khosla and others.

“BJP has no reason to beat drums in Maharashtra when it has lost its percentage of polls from recently held Lok Sabha election. BJP had secured 31% of votes in Lok Sabha polls in Maharashtra whereas its percentage came down to 27.8 in the Assembly election. The BJP, in spite of its wholehearted efforts to communalize the electoral environment failed miserably to catch Maratha votes in Maharashtra. The Maratha votes got divided in three segments, Shiv Sena, Congress and NCP (19.3 + 18.0 + 17.2). This makes 54.5% of the total votes besides the votes polled by other smaller parties and independent. The BJP has nothing to celebrate with just 27.8% of votes which is secured by spending tones of money, false promises and horrors of caste and communal division.” This was the political analysis worked out by Prof.Bhim Singh, Chief Patron of National Panthers Party and Member of National Integration Council. He said that BJP could not secure even 1/3rd of the total votes polled in the election. 36% of the total voters in the state were absent. The BJP could hardly reach 15% of the total number of voters in Maharashtra, mostly non-Marathas. After effects of Maharashtra Assembly polls, 2014 may give rise to polarization between locals and non-locals and Marathas and non-Marathas. This is the Modi contribution which shall not be good for the future of the largest democracy in the world.

Prof.Bhim Singh commenting on Haryana Assembly results shared the views of those who believe that the BJP election campaign or strategy to alienate Jats from the rest of the community shall prove counter productive and weakened the national integrity in the north. He said that, though, BJP got 47/90 Assembly seats for the first time but it secured only just 1/3rd of the total votes polled (33.2%) and less than ¼th of the total electorates in Haryana. This was disgusting, Prof.Bhim Singh remarked that the BJP tried to demonize the Jats community in the election just for timely gain leaving the bad taste between the Jats and non-Jats in the state. In spite of all this INLD, INC, IND & BSP (24.1 + 20.6 + 10.6 + 4.4) together managed to secure 59.1% of votes which is an extraordinary strength in democracy.

Prof.Bhim Singh recollected that Acharya Vinoba Bhave ji had asked him a question when he (Bhim Singh) met him in his (Acharya) Ashram, Wardha in 1979 that as long as the puzzle in parliamentary democracy is not resolved which makes 51 absolute and 49 non-existent, democracy can’t be harmonized. What he meant was that a political party which secures even 51% of the total number of seats in a legislature takes over full command of the government leaving 49% as helpless creatures. Prof.Bhim Singh said that this question of Vinoba ji needs an open debate to resolve a serious lacuna in our parliamentary system in India. Prof.Bhim Singh said that the present system has to be reworked to ensure involvement of all political parties in the process of national building. There are number of seats in the legislature shall have to be worked out on the basis of percentage of votes. He said that the political corruption/individual corruption by the candidates can also be checked. Proportional representation with some scientific amendments needs to be introduced with bold face and no hesitation.

Prof.Bhim Singh said that the research work conducted by some freelancers has indicated that Rs.5 to 10 crores were spent in one Assembly constituency by the candidates of the bigger parties both in Maharashtra and in Haryana. This money menace and political corruption may destroy the very roots of democracy if not checked in time.